La Mota Fortress in Alcala la Real, Spain

This was one of our favorite places to visit and experience. 

View from one of the towers above and below.

Ruins of another church outside the walls.

Looking out on the Abbey Church.

Below, inside the church.

The floor of church held burial sites long since moved.

Inside the walls a plot of lavender.  Beyond you can see the olive groves.

To get to the tower we had to climb up and down this narrow stair case.  This photo is taken going down but it could be going up.  An optical illusion.

Priego de Cordoba Fortress

 Priego was our base for the two weeks in southern Spain.  It was the first place we went exploring as we adjusted to the time change and jet lag.

It's open.  Let's go in.

Exploring. 

Must have been entrance to dungeon.

Magnificent archway

Narrow slots for arrows?

Ancient history.

A mural depicting fight for the fortress.  Notice the heads being carried?

Huge room in one tower.  There was another just as big above.

House that is no longer occupied.

Dan had to go down backwards to avoid hitting his head.

A hot day.  We kept ourselves hydrated in the dry heat.

Close up of the stone. Looked like pumice but I think it was karst.

Heading out to the next place to visit.